103b PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 



engaged in field investigations tlu-oughout the country have ample 

 opportunities of contributing to our knowledge in these matters. But 

 for waivt of facilities for publication either such things are not recorded 

 nowadays or even if recorded they are consigned to files. After a time 

 the interest due to freshness of the observation becomes stale even to 

 the observer himself and he gradually loses the stimulus of recording his 

 observations. If he knows that there is an organ which is his own and 

 in which all things, interesting and useful, however small and described 

 however briefly, will find a corner under his own name, he is not likely to 

 let slip any opportunity for observations and recording them. A person 

 not in the habit of recording them will be tempted to do so when he sees 

 his fellow workers doing it and getting the credit for it. The healthy 

 rivalry which will thus be evoked will be of immense benefit to Economic 

 Entomology in India. This will also improve the quality of the work. 

 Wlien one is going to put down a thing in black and white for publica- 

 tion, under all the chastening influences of the prospect of criticism, 

 one is naturally compelled to go deeper into it. 



A publication of the nature suggested here will be of very great use 

 to the working entomologists as it will be a sort of a meeting ground for 

 them and serve the purpose of a perpetual conference of the kind in 

 "which we have been partaking at present. A record of observation 

 on a particular insect in a particular aspect in one Province will evoke 

 interest in it and lead to observations on that aspect in the other 

 Provinces. Besides it frequently happens that more than one of us are 

 engaged on the same problem in different Provinces. We follow oiu: 

 own lines in complete ignorance of what others are doing or what pro- 

 gress has been made. The suggested journal will remedy this defect. 

 It may be argued that we may co-operate tlirough correspondence. 

 But this is only possible when we know what others are doing and at 

 present there is no means of distribution of this knowledge. Besides 

 some workers may justly look forward to recognition. Recognition of 

 one's efforts however insignificant always acts as a stimulus and the 

 proposed journal will give an incentive to young entomologists when 

 they see that their eft'orts are being recognized. In this manner many 

 things will come to light, which although probably small in themselves, 

 may form important links for work another may be doing. We there- 

 fore see that a journal solely devoted to the subject of entomology is 

 not only desirable but -ivill serve a very useful purpose in furthering 

 the work of the economic entomologists in this country. To begin 

 with, it may form a part of the Agricidtural Journal of India or can 

 be issued as a separate publication under a distinctive name such as 

 the " Indian Entomologist." A separate publication would of course 



